Kap Survey of Awareness of Physiotherapy

Asghar N et al.,
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v3i04.99

PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES

https://thejas.com.pk/index.php/pjhs
ALLIED HEALTH

Volume 3, Issue 4 (September 2022)

Original Article
Kap Survey of Awareness of Physiotherapy Among Urban and Rural General
Population of Gujranwala Division
Nadeem Asghar1*, Muhammad Awais1, Khushboo Gulzar1, Hamza Mansha1, Farooq Islam1, Hamza Tanveer1
¹University of Chenab, Gujrat, Pakistan

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Key Words:
Awareness, Physiotherapy, KAP
How to Cite:
Asghar, N. ., Awais, M. ., Gulzar, K. ., Mansha, H. .,
Islam, F., & Tanveer, H. . (2022). KAP Survey of
Awareness of Physiotherapy Among Urban and Rural
General Population of Gujranwala Division: Kap
Survey of Awareness of Physiotherapy. Pakistan
Journal of Health Sciences, 3(04).
https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v3i04.99
*Corresponding Author:
Nadeem Asghar
University of Chenab, Gujrat, Pakistan
nadeem.asghar@uipt.uol.edu.pk
Received Date: 6th September, 2022
Acceptance Date: 17th September, 2022
Published Date: 30th September, 2022
Physiotherapists play an important part in providing health care and physiotherapy is a
recognized profession around the globe. Physiotherapy is a medical specialty that focuses on
human function and mobility in order to aid people attains their full potential; It is signi cant to
have a good understanding towards careers associated to one's eld of study. Objective: The
aim of the study was to assess the awareness regarding physiotherapy among urban and rural
general population in Gujranwala Division. Methods: This observational study was carried out on
a sample size of 384 divided equally into 192 urban and 192 rural population of people including
male and female both from age group 20 years or above through non probability random
sampling. The study was carried out in general population of Gujranwala Division for 6 months.
Self-made Likert scale was developed to collect data. The responses were analyzed through
SPSS. Results: Out of 384 participant's population of urban area had high knowledge attitude
and practice level regarding awareness of physiotherapy whereas rural population showed
moderate to low knowledge attitude and practice level. According to association between
education and awareness from category Undergraduate-post graduate were highly aware of
physiotherapy, while other participant's awareness was moderate to low. Conclusions: A very
good response was seen in urban population of Gujranwala Division, mostly people were highly
aware of physiotherapy, whereas in rural population there was a moderate to poor response. A
strong association was seen between education and physiotherapy. Higher level of education
displayed powerful impact on awareness of people. Education plays an impactful role in better
understanding of physiotherapy.

INTRODUCTION
Physiotherapy is a type of treatment that is used to help
people considerably more than the treatment of
musculoskeletal sports injuries. Despite the fact that this
is perhaps the most popular notion of the Occupation [1]. It
is a broad approach that employs a variety of techniques
[2]. A dynamic profession that employs a variety of
therapeutic strategies to help people regain movement
and function in their bodies. Physiotherapists provide
comprehensive care for patients with a variety of medical
and surgical conditions [3]. A physiotherapist is a
healthcare provider who collaborates with other medical
practitioners in inter-professional activities [4].
Physiotherapist are trained to help people develop,
maintain, and recover their maximal mobility and
functional capacity throughout their lives. Aging, injuries,
illnesses or environmental factors can all cause movement
dysfunction [5]. Physiotherapists are self-employed
professionals who can work alone or as part of a
multidisciplinary team [6]. There is an obvious need to
enhance awareness and expertise of physiotherapy [7].
Physiotherapy services are now accessible in a wide range
of contexts, including health institutions, private
practices, schools, sports, and workplaces, with
interaction between physical therapists, patients, other
h e a l t h p rofe ss i o n a l s , fa m i l i e s , c a re g i ve rs , a n d
communities [8]. A successful physiotherapy intervention
and appropriate patient care are built on a foundation of
proper education [9]. Physiotherapists who want to
provide a high quality of therapy to adult or child clients
must combine diverse forms of information and viewpoints
in their practice, despite the biomedical prominence
during physical activity [10]. One of the primary issues that

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Asghar N et al.,
in uences access to rehab services is a weak referral
system that does not properly utilize the expertise available
inside the system [11]. It would be inaccurate to claim that
m e d i c a l e x p e r t s a r e u n a w a r e o f t h e d i f fe r e n t
physiotherapy therapies and their advantages [12]. It is
thought that early referral and recognition by medical
practitioners, as well as public awareness, leads to
improved optimization and delivery of physiotherapy
services, which are currently underutilized [13]. Although
general practitioners are aware of physiotherapy's
applications in musculoskeletal, pediatrics, neurological,
cardio-respiratory, and sports conditions, they are less
aware of developments in the eld of women's health,
cancer and geriatric conditions, and transplantation units.
The physiotherapist's involvement in the prescription of
orthotics and prostheses often underappreciated.
Physical therapists play an important part in critical care
unit settings and various phases of cardiac and pulmonary
rehabilitation [14]. Physical therapy, which is widely
accepted across the world as a remedy, is not justi ed
when it comes to general awareness in Pakistan, which has
a population of over 185 million. Only 13.5 percent of our
population is aware of the profession [15]. A major increase
in the incidence of chronic illnesses is occurring in tandem
with the ageing of our people. As a result, the demand for
physical therapists and physical therapy services has
surged across the board [16]. Between 2001-2005,
physiotherapy consultations for adults over 65 years old
increased by 43%. For nine of the previous ten years, the
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has
identi ed a nationwide shortage of physiotherapists in
Australia [17]. 98% prevalence reported in people who have
never heard of physiotherapy in Nigeria. Those with
musculoskeletal problems reported that they mainly
utilized traditional medicine or home remedies and their
health-seeking behavior was mainly determined by
affordability (41.8%) [18]. The prevalence of awareness of
physiotherapy among general public in an African market
showed relatively high level of awareness (68.6%)
demonstrated by respondents in this study, who were
drawn from a market place; and were expected to show a
low level of awareness [19]. In today's technologically
advanced world, with the development of newer medical
and surgical options for patient care, it is time for all health-
care professionals to recognize that the profession of
physiotherapy has advanced to the point where it can treat
and rehabilitate a wide range of aches, conditions, and
syndromes [20]. With the implementation of treatments to
enhance a person 's quality of life, physiotherapy is
considered a vital aspect of the health-care delivery
system. The general public's use of physiotherapy services
can be impacted by their understanding of the function of
PJHS VOL. 3 Issue. 4 September 2022
Copyright (c) 2022. PJHS, Published by Crosslinks International Publishers
Kap Survey of Awareness of Physiotherapy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v3i04.99
physiotherapy in healthcare system [21]. Through use of
only modalities should not describe physiotherapy
practice; instead, it should be described by the
combination of examination, history, and analysis of
movement dysfunction [22]. Stereotypical perceptions
about it must be addressed in a burgeoning profession
whose patient base is still heavily reliant on referrals from
medical practitioners. Lack of awareness of physiotherapy
has had a strong impact on its standing [23]. This purpose
of the study is to assess the level of awareness about
physiotherapy among the urban and rural general
population in Gujranwala Division. The results may highlight
the need to take certain steps to raise awareness among
the rural population of Gujranwala division which may
include publicizing the positive aspects of the
physiotherapy profession, boosting the number of
employment opportunities for Bachelor and Masters
trained physiotherapists in governmental departments,
giving conferences to other medical practitioners about
the signi cance of physiotherapy, and growing social
interactions and networking in the physiotherapy
profession.
METHODS
A Descriptive comparative study was conducted; non-
probability convenient sampling was used to select the
sample. The study included 384 con rmed participants
from Gujranwala Division according to inclusion and
exclusion criteria. A self-made Likert scale questionnaire
was used to collect data regarding awareness of
physiotherapy among urban and rural population. Data was
entered and analyzed through statistical package for social
sciences (SPSS). For descriptive analysis mean and
standard deviation was calculated for quantitative or
numerical data. Whereas frequencies and percentages
were calculated for qualitative variables appropriate
graphical representation was done. Level of signi cance or
Con dence Interval was (95%), and all data were analyzed
at 95% con dence interval and p-value less than an equal
(0.05) was considered as signi cant value.
RESULTS
In account with other variables, according to gender
225(58.6%) males and 159(41.4%) females participated then
according to the age group 203(52.9%) were from Age
group 20-29, 96(25.0%) were from age group 30-39
whereas 68(17.7 %) participants were from age group 40-
49, and 17(4.4%) were from age group 50-59. Which shows
most participation was from group 20-29 years of age.
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Asghar N et al.,
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v3i04.99

Demographic Data Poor ( 4-8 ) 70 ( 18.2% )

Variables Categories N (%) Attitude Level Neutral ( 9-12 ) 88 (22.9% )
20-29 203(50.9%) High ( 13-16 ) 226 ( 58.9% )
Age of Participants 30-39 96(25.0%) Poor ( 4-8 ) 63 ( 16.4% )
(years) 40-49 68(17.7%) Practice Level Neutral ( 9-12 ) 104 ( 27.1% )
50-59 17(404%) High ( 13-16 ) 217 ( 56.5% )
Upper Class 80(20.8%) Total 384 ( 100 )
Socio-economic Table 2: Division of participants according to their Knowledge
Status Middle Class 194(50.5%)
Lower Class 110(28.6%) Attitude and Practice (KAP) level from poor to neutral to high.
<Primary 106(27.6%) Co-relation of Residency With Chi-Square Value p-Value
Education of Primary/Elementary 61(15.9%) Knowledge 184.48 >0.001
Participants SSC/HHSC 29(7.6%) Attitude 232.55 >0.001
Undergraduate/Postgraduate 188(49.0%) Practice 214.13 >0.001
Gender of Male 225(58.6%) Table 3: Association of Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP)
Participants Female 159(41.4%) with urban and rural population.
Total 384(100%)
DISCUSSION
Table 1: Demographic data of participants
The present study involves 384 participants from which
in uences access to rehab services is a weak referral most of the Urban population showed high level of
system that does not properly utilize the expertise available awareness, Whereas the rural population had moderate to
inside the system [11]. It would be inaccurate to claim that low percentage of awareness regarding the profession in
m e d i c a l e x p e r t s a r e u n a w a r e o f t h e d i f fe r e n t general population of Gujranwala Division. While
physiotherapy therapies and their advantages [12]. It is associating education with awareness participants from
thought that early referral and recognition by medical undergraduate-graduate group displayed high level of
practitioners, as well as public awareness, leads to awareness. Previously a cross sectional was conducted in
improved optimization and delivery of physiotherapy 2019 with a sample size of 198 students about knowledge
services, which are currently underutilized [13]. Although and awareness of physiotherapy among medical and health
general practitioners are aware of physiotherapy's sciences students. The result of previous study showed
applications in musculoskeletal, pediatrics, neurological, undergraduates with satisfactory level of awareness were
cardio-respiratory, and sports conditions, they are less only 37.4%. So the results suggest a very low level of
aware of developments in the eld of women's health, awareness regarding physiotherapy among
cancer and geriatric conditions, and transplantation units. undergraduates [24]. This cross-sectional report was
The physiotherapist's involvement in the prescription of written in 2020 He, Danmei to assess the public awareness
orthotics and prostheses often underappreciated. and knowledge towards physiotherapy which comprised of
Physical therapists play an important part in critical care total 308 eligible participants. Only 13.6% had adequate
unit settings and various phases of cardiac and pulmonary knowledge and exhibited the more educated the
rehabilitation [14]. Physical therapy, which is widely participants were the higher the knowledge was regarding
accepted across the world as a remedy, is not justi ed physiotherapy. Socioeconomic status was also a variable in
when it comes to general awareness in Pakistan, which has this study. The study also highlighted that income was
a population of over 185 million. Only 13.5 percent of our associated with the level of awareness of people. The study
population is aware of the profession [15]. A major increase concluded that public of China was ignorant regarding
in the incidence of chronic illnesses is occurring in tandem physiotherapy. In Another study on awareness and
with the ageing of our people. As a result, the demand for knowledge of physiotherapy among general population of
physical therapists and physical therapy services has an African market in Ghana which included 500
surged across the board [16]. Between 2001-2005, participants consisting of 209 (41.8%) men and 291 (58.2%)
physiotherapy consultations for adults over 65 years old women. They were aged 20 years and above from the
increased by 43%. For nine of the previous ten years, the market which showed 68.6% participants were aware of
KAP Survey physiotherapy emphasized on there was still a need to
Variables Categories N (%) educate the general population of Ghana about
Poor ( 4-8 ) 45 ( 11.7% ) physiotherapy [20]. Though the present study is comprised
Knowledge Level Neutral ( 9-12 ) 99 ( 25.8% ) of 126 participants 76(60.32%) were female while 50
High ( 13-16 ) 240 ( 62.5 %) (30.68%) were male and an overall adequate level of
awareness (81.75%) was seen and age [25].

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Asghar N et al.,
CONCLUSIONS
A very good response was seen in urban population of
Gujranwala Division, mostly people were highly aware of
physiotherapy, whereas in rural population there was a
moderate to poor response. A strong association was seen
between education and physiotherapy. Higher level of
education displayed powerful impact on awareness of
people. Education plays an impactful role in better
understanding of physiotherapy.
Conicts of Interest
The authors declare no con ict of interest.
Source of Funding
The author(s) received no nancial support for the
research, authorship and/or publication of this article
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